𝐃𝐎𝐆 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊 Suella Braverman is seeking "urgent advice" on banning American XL bullies after a dog attacked an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham. But banning the breed wouldn’t work. Even if they tried, it would be ineffective, expensive, and likely do more harm than good. Why? 1. Because “XL Bully” isn’t a breed American XL bulldogs aren’t recognised as a breed, but rather are a combination of bulldog-types which are bred to have certain characteristics. They have no specific DNA markers, and banning them would almost definitely lead to an inadvertent ban on other American/crossover bulldog breeds. When pit bull terriers were banned, this led to the destruction of thousands of dogs who had never bitten or even shown violent tendencies. Some weren’t even pit bull terriers, but crossover breeds who the police “thought” resembled pitties. So they seized them and killed them — sometimes, even setting them on fire — without even informing their owners. 1000s of innocent animals were murdered. Not because of their actions, but purely because of their breed (or because they resembled a banned breed). 2. Every dog is capable of causing injury XL bullies aren’t the only large dog breed involved in recent attacks. While there has been a rise in the popularity of XL bullies — leading to irresponsible ownership and unsafe breeding practices — they aren’t the only ones. Last March, a family’s Siberian Husky mauled their 3-month-old baby to death. Based on figures from Mersyside Police, Jack Russells were listed as the most likely breed to bite. Rottweilers and German Shepherds account for over 15% of all dog-related deaths. By that logic, should we also ban them? Of course not. Because banning breeds doesn’t work. Every dog has the potential to cause harm if they are left in the hands of an irresponsible owner. Even if the Government did ban XL bullies, people would continue keeping them and breeding them illegally, thereby worsening the risk of harm as the animals would be unregulated and sold black-market. Animal charities have also criticised the logic behind breed-specific bans, with the RSPCA saying this in response to calls to ban XL bullies: "Breed is not a reliable predictor of aggressive behaviour in dogs. Every dog has the potential to bite. As we look to reduce dangerous dog incidents, we need solutions that promote responsible pet ownership, tough sanctions for those who wilfully use dogs to frighten and intimidate people and other animals will also be key." The only way to stop dangerous dog attacks is by handing out stricter sentences, clamping down on backyard breeding + stopping dangerous owners from keeping pets. Reintroducing mandatory licensing for domestic dogs would also go a long way in monitoring the behaviour and care of pets, though this presents its own problems re. implementation. But the TLDR is clear: Greater regulation and oversight is needed, but breed-specific bans simply don’t work. Restrict the owner, not the breed.